News

USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) invites U.S. higher education and research institutions to submit proposals for the 2026 Borlaug and Cochran Fellowship Programs. This $3,675,000 investment funds U.S.-based scientific collaboration and training designed to dismantle foreign barriers to trade, advance regulatory frameworks based in science, and secure new pathways for U.S. agricultural export.

USDA-FAS’s fiscal year 2026 investment will fund collaborative research and training based in the United States. These programs directly support U.S. agriculture by reducing foreign trade barriers, advancing science-based regulations, and opening new export markets for U.S. commodities. 

2026 funding portfolios: 

• Borlaug Fellowship Program ($2.625M total): Funds 6 programs up to $750,000 each. Focuses on long-term scientific research, biotechnology, and regulatory alignment. 
• Cochran Fellowship Program ($1.050M total): Funds 7 programs up to $150,000 each. Focuses on short-term hands-on training for international buyers and regulatory officials. 

High-priority trade objectives & regional targets: 

Selected U.S. institutions will host international fellows to directly advance 4 critical U.S. trade priorities: 

1. Expand markets for softwood lumber in Vietnam’s growing manufacturing and construction sectors by demonstrating the quality, grading and structural applications of American wood.  
2. Increase market access for U.S. poultry and consumer products in Uzbekistan and Egypt by showcasing America’s food safety standards, building trust with buyers and government officials. 
3. Advance biotechnology across North Africa and Southeast Asia by encouraging science-based regulations that increase opportunities for U.S. exports of genetically engineered corn, soy, and distillers dried grains. 
4. Lower non-tariff trade barriers tied to gene editing in Egypt by establishing a peer-to-peer scientific partnership with government researchers, helping align Egypt’s technical standards with U.S. feed and food frameworks. 

U.S. colleges and universities, land-grant institutions, and State cooperative institutions are eligible to apply. If selected, partners will be required to design curriculum, provide technical mentorship, manage travel logistics, and report on measurable trade impacts. 

How to apply: 

The full program criteria, specific country allocations, and submission portals are live on Grants.gov at:  

• Norman E. Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellowship Program FY2026
• Cochran Fellowship Programs FY2026

The deadline to apply for both programs is August 14, 2026, 11:59 pm EST. 

Source: USDA-FAS Newsroom, June 16, 2026

USDA launched a Trade Reciprocity for U.S. Manufacturers and Producers (TRUMP) mission to Argentina and Ecuador to open new markets and strengthen export opportunities for U.S. farmers, ranchers and producers. Built on reciprocal trade and investment agreements signed with Argentina and Ecuador earlier this year, the mission led by USDA’s Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, Luke J. Lindberg, aims to increase fair access to 2 of the Western Hemisphere’s fastest-growing markets.

In 2025 alone, the U.S. exported $166 million in seeds, essential oils, livestock genetics, tree nuts and more to Argentina. The same year, $595 million in agricultural products were exported to Ecuador, including soybean meal, wheat, and other feeds and fodders.

Staff from USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service will lead industry tours, host business-to-business meetings, and meet with Argentine and Ecuadorian officials to support U.S. trade priorities and U.S. agricultural producers. The delegation includes representatives from 

1. California Almonds – Modesto, Calif.
2. USA Poultry & Egg Export Council – Tucker, Ga.
3. U.S. Grains and Bioproducts Council – Washington, D.C.
4. U.S. Livestock Genetics Export, Inc. – Mount Horeb, Wis.
5. U.S. Meat Export Federation – Denver, Colo.
6. U.S. Soybean Export Council – Chesterfield, Mo. 
7. U.S. Wheat Associates – Arlington, Va.

This is USDA’s 4th TRUMP mission of 2026. TRUMP missions provide rapid response to new market opportunities, directly connecting U.S farmers and producers with foreign buyers and governments to negotiate improved access, promote fair trade, and ensure the benefits of overseas trade flow back to the farms, ranches, and rural communities that sustain U.S. agriculture. 

For more information on USDA trade missions, visit fas.usda.gov/topics/trade-missions.

Source: USDA-FAS Newsroom, June 2, 2026

On April 1, Nigeria announced the 2026 Fiscal Policy Measures and Tariff Amendments, which eliminate (or gradually reduce to 0) nearly all the import adjustment taxes on agricultural imports. Extra duties on U.S. wheat imports, valued at $466 million in 2025, are expected to be reduced from 15 to 0% by April 1. Import adjustment taxes will be eliminated by April 1 (or gradually reduced over 10 years) on other key U.S. exports including live animals for breeding, animal feed products, ethanol, and rice. In addition, the revised import prohibition list (Annex III) maintains 73 agricultural and related products (by HS code) on the list, while removing 77 products from the previous import prohibition list.

Source: USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, Global Agricultural Information Network Report NI2026-0010

Armenia’s livestock sector is a major component of the country’s agriculture, accounting for more than 40% of agricultural output and supporting approximately 170,000 rural households, but it remains constrained by financial and technical barriers. To address these issues, the Government of Armenia has adopted broad economic and agricultural development strategies. Armenia’s interest in improving livestock productivity and strengthening agricultural trade creates potential opportunities for U.S. exporters of livestock and related products, although U.S. suppliers face strong price competition from Russia and other Eurasian Economic Union countries.

Source: USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, Global Agricultural Information Network Report AM2026-0002

USDA announced an expanded partnership with the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) to increase domestic agricultural production and exports, while reducing the agricultural trade deficit. Alongside this partnership, USDA is formally launching the Financial Assurance to Revitalize Markets, or FARM, Initiative, a comprehensive effort to strengthen and modernize its export credit guarantee program in support of U.S. agricultural competitiveness.

The FARM Initiative serves as the umbrella for a series of program improvements and activities designed to enhance access to emerging markets, increase certainty for exporters and lenders, and ensure that U.S. agriculture remains a reliable and resilient partner in global trade. The new USDA-EXIM partnership brings together USDA’s export financing programs and EXIM’s role as the official export credit agency of the United States. By coordinating these tools, both agencies aim to create new opportunities for U.S. farmers and agricultural producers, expand available financing and credit programs, and support increased sales of U.S. agricultural products overseas. 

On February 3, 2026, as an early action under FARM, USDA introduced expanded financing options under the Export Credit Guarantee Program (GSM-102), including a new 18-month repayment option that allows eligible buyers to make a single payment at the end of the term instead of installments. Today, USDA is advancing additional enhancements under FARM by expanding global banking participation to widen access to trade finance and for higher-risk markets, offering 100% coverage for payment guarantees so that U.S. exporters can confidently pursue new opportunities.

EXIM will complement the $5.5 billion authorized under GSM-102 with its export credit insurance programs, significantly increasing both the scale and mix of export financing tools available to promote U.S. agricultural exports. The FARM Initiative will also include extensive outreach to stakeholders and participants to improve usability, promote market awareness, and ensure these tools effectively support U.S. agriculture.

To learn more about USDA’s export market and financing programs, visit fas.usda.gov/programs.

Source: USDA Press Releases, No. 0060.26 (April 29, 2026)

USLGE is thrilled to announce $1.85 million in funding for new export market development granted through the  America First Trade Promotion Program (AFTPP) of USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA-FAS). This AFTPP grant is another critical tool in support of the U.S. livestock genetics industry to help level the global trade playing field and  address ongoing challenges and new opportunities.

President and CEO Martin Sieber noted, “We are grateful to USDA-FAS for continuing to provide us with unprecedented support in unique times where we face continued  challenges every day, coupled with ongoing resources to help us open new markets for genetics and live animals.” Sieber added, “USLGE’s relationship with USDA-FAS continues to be a prime example of a highly successful public-private partnership.”

“We couldn’t be more excited for this new opportunity to expand our reach, gain new customers, open new markets, and address frustrating challenges such as the New World screwworm,” added Weston Merrill, Marketing Officer for Trade and Market Development at the Montana Department of Agriculture as well as
current chair of USLGE’s Board of Directors.

For more information, contact USLGE at uslge@uslge.org